Shelter blames end of eviction ban for glut of pleas for help

Shelter claims its helpline has received 1,000 callers a day since the eviction ban began easing at the start of summer.

It says the helpline - free to use and part-funded by M&S Food - has been “inundated” with over  60,000 people ringing between June and October. Of those calling 70 per cent were already homeless or at risk of homelessness.  

A new statement from the charity claims the evictions ban was one of a number of “vital” measures keeping thousands safe in their homes. But as they have gradually wound down and living costs have risen, thousands of people have been contacting the housing charity.

It claims one in four callers need urgent help to find temporary accommodation, and a roughly similar proportion need help “to try and [sic] keep hold of their current home.”

Shelter, which is currently running an appeal for funds, says a difficult winter lies ahead for its services.

Helpline manager Andrea Deakin comments: “The last year has been hard, and 2022 is going to be just as tough. Now Covid protections have ended and living costs are soaring, we’re answering calls from thousands of people who are homeless or about to be.

“We’re working every day, including Christmas Day, to make sure no one faces homelessness alone, but we’ve got our work cut out. By the time we get that call most people have exhausted every other avenue - from the family about to be evicted, to the person facing another night sleeping in their car.”